We have been discussing a number of sports media issues in recent weeks. Why? Because they in some way relate to the drama that will presumably come to an end in the next three weeks: The Pac-12 is widely expected to finalize a media rights deal and answer many questions about the emerging college sports marketplace.
However, the sports media landscape shifted over the weekend. ESPN announced a fresh wave of layoffs, including college football personalities such as David Pollack.
ESPN’s cost-cutting moves coincide with the network’s decision to give Pat McAfee a very lucrative contract and make him the face of ESPN’s college football programming, including a visible presence on the flagship college football pregame show “College GameDay.”
ESPN giving McAfee a bundle of money while getting rid of other expensive contracts creates a fascinating landscape in which one question emerges for the Pac-12: Just how much money is the Pac-12 in position to get from ESPN right now? Are ESPN’s finances affecting what George Kliavkoff is able to negotiate? We’ll find out soon enough.
Trojans Wire joined Awful Announcing’s Ken Fang and “Powers on Sports” podcaster Jason Powers to discuss the McAfee deal and more at the “Last Word on Sports” media podcast.
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